Anthony Wu found guilty of professional misconduct

Howard Winn

BIO

Howard Winn has been with the South China Morning Post for two and half years after previous stints as business editor and deputy editor of The Standard, and business editor of Asia Times. His writing has also been published in the Far Eastern Economic Review, the Wall Street Journal, and the International Herald Tribune. He writes the Lai See column which focuses on the lighter side of business.

Just in case you missed it, which would not have been hard since it was released on the evening of December 24, the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) announced that former chairman of the Hospital Authority Anthony Wu Ting-yuk had been found guilty of professional misconduct. It seems an odd time to release information of such significance unless you were trying to bury it. But we are told the timing was a coincidence since the HKICPA only received the report from the disciplinary committee on the afternoon of December 24. However, this is a case that has been fraught with delays.

Wu's professional misconduct relates to the collapse of the New China Hong Kong Group (NCHK) in 1999, owing creditors some HK$1.5 billion. It spawned a string of court cases, some of which were still in process in 2011. The HKICPA's action also includes two other defendants, Ernst & Young and Catherine Yen Ka-shun, a senior figure with Ernst & Young. Wu was managing partner of Ernst & Young's China business in 1996, before becoming deputy chairman of the firm in 1998 and chairman in 2000, a position he held until the end of 2005.

The HKICPA's proceedings against these defendants have been protracted to say the least. It took two years for it to decide if the complaints against the trio merited a disciplinary investigation, and then almost two and a half years to investigate the case before it was heard in May 2013, making it far and away the institute's longest-running case. It then took almost eight months for a report on the findings to be prepared. The saga is not over yet as the announcement usually coincides with the determination of sanctions and the reasons. This usually takes a month to decide but we are not holding our breath. Wu has told the press he may appeal against the disciplinary committee's findings in court, which could either confirm or reverse the findings. NCHK was formed with considerable fanfare in 1993 by a consortium of investors from Hong Kong, the mainland and Singapore and was chaired by Tsui Tsin-tong. During this period Wu was financial adviser to NCHK and Ernst & Young was auditor to NCHK.

The HKICPA's statement said Wu was found guilty of professional misconduct in failing to observe the independence requirements of the institute "in participating in the management of the company and/or otherwise having an involvement with the company and its subsidiaries whilst also a senior partner of EY who acted as auditors of the company."

The statement said that Wu should have taken more care to maintain the appearance of independence. "Instead Anthony Wu remained (a) as a member of the Executive Committee of an audit client, (b) was an authorised signatory to almost 13 bank accounts of the group company (a function usually perceived to be one of management), (c) had personal dealings involving considerable sums of money with the company's subsidiaries who were also audit clients of EY, (d) whilst at the same time a significant retainer was being paid to EY for Anthony Wu being the financial adviser, (e) making loans either personally or indirectly through a third party company to an audit client."

In addition, both Ernst & Young and Yen were also found guilty of "failing or neglecting to observe, maintain or otherwise apply a professional standard" and "failing or neglecting to maintain a professional standard."

In the 14 years since the collapse of NCHK, while various court cases and the HKICPA investigation have rumbled on in the background, Wu has carved out another career for himself as a public figure in the roles of chairman of the Hospital Authority, which he held from October 2004 until November 2013, chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce 2010-2012, as well as sitting on numerous government boards and panels and holding a number of independent non-executive directorships. He's also a member of the standing committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee.

HKICPA sanctions include temporary or permanent withholding of membership, a reprimand and / or fining. None of which is likely to bother Wu, who is now 60 and no longer works in the accountancy industry.

There is no justice in HK for ****s like Wu as well as other government officials..........they seem to be above the law in these circumstances............what a shame!

honger Jan 3rd 20149:52am

Timed for release at Christmas Eve?What a coincidence indeed. As long as there is no corporate governance practiced by the auditors themselves, this kind of story continue. Remember the Bank Bumi/George Tan scandal? The auditors involved got off scot free except for a gentle reprimand.In Wu's case, it is time to relieve him of all his public posts until he is cleared of all charges.Good job, Howard, for highligting this.

chaz_hen Jan 3rd 201411:12am

Ah, sweet "justice"

dynamco Jan 3rd 201410:26am

when can we see Donald Tsang in court with his former henchmen ? Misconduct in public office.
As for smug Wu, the Hospital Authority is crying out for doctors, of whatever nationality ,so he got his sums wrong twice.